10 New Year’s Resolutions For Cyclists

Draw up a structured cycling plan based on your level of fitness and stick to it. You are far more likely to stick to a cycling plan that you can see in black and white.

Draw up a full fitness plan which includes cross training. Remember you need to include exercise programmes which encourage core strength, flexibility, endurance and stretching. Keep a training diary which includes every form of exercise to do each day. It will be interesting to look back on in ten years time, when you have won the Tour de France.

Remember to clean your bike after each ride. It’s something we all put off – you get home after a ride and all you want is a beer and a shower, the last thing you want is to clean your bike, but it really is a good habit to get into. Bikes are very expensive pieces of equipment and will last longer if kept clean.

Look at your food and drink intake. Are you drinking too much, smoking too much or eating an unhealthy diet? Look closely at your eating and drinking habits and see where you can improve on them.

Go green and use your bike to go to the shops or work. Don’t jump into your car every time you need to go to the shops or get to work. Save money and reduce carbon emissions by using your bike more.

Adhere to the traffic laws. Cyclists get killed on the roads every year and some of these accidents are avoidable. Cyclists do go over red lights or cut corners when they think no other road users are around and sometimes this prove fatal results.

Encourage at least one person to take up cycling. Perhaps you have a friend or relative who is a little overweight or just generally unfit, if so, you could gently persuade them to join you on one of your rides. Suggest that you would like the company and after a few rides, your new riding companion will probably be as passionate about cycling as you are.

One day a week, take the computer off your bike and just ride for the enjoyment of it. Remember what it was like to be a child and just get on a bike and cycle for fun.

Set yourself a challenge – a cycling holiday or perhaps entering a race. Plan a cycling holiday to a renowned cycling destination in your country or overseas. If your budget won’t stretch to a stay-away holiday then organise day rides which take you places you’ve never visited before. Plan to enter a race which you would find challenging. Keep your expectations realistic, as not realising your goals will put a dampener on your enthusiasm.